KARACHI: A delegation of the Karachi Tax Bar Association (KTBA), headed by its President Muhammad Zubair, met with the chairman of the Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue (ATIR) to discuss the issues being faced by the bar members.
The KTBA delegation during the meeting put forward the issues being faced by the taxpayers and members of the tax bar regarding timing of benches, delay in issuing of Orders-in Original (ONOs), conditional stay orders, extension/re-extension and recording of documents.
The KTBA delegation was of the view that the timing given for hearing in hearing notice is not being followed and cases are being heard after 12 pm in some cases the Appellate Representatives (ARs) and Departmental Representatives (DRs) have to wait from 9 am to 12 pm which ultimately results in wasting the valuable time of ARs and DRs.
It further said that it was a common trend in ATIR that the Orders are issued taking a longer time and even in some cases crossing the period of six months.
The delegation further said that in some cases appeals are pending before the CIR (A) and he decides not to grant stay or has exhausted the 30 days statutory period available to him under the law to grant stay.
“In such cases, taxpayers file an appeal before the ATIR against the Order of CIR (A) refusing stay”, it added.
The Chairman ATIR assured the KTBA delegation of timely redressal of their issues being faced by them and termed those issues a serious matter and also issued instructions to the concerned authorities for proper resolving the issues.
On the occasion, the KTBA delegation expressed its gratitude to the Chairman ATIR for giving a patient hearing of the issues being faced by the taxpayers and members.
The delegation was of the view that the Chairman ATIR conducts its benches in Karachi also and needs continuous surveillance and control over the affairs of the benches by him.
